Apparatus for handling loose material



Nov. 27, 1928. 1,692,823

s. W. FARNHAM APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LOOSE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 12, 192s 5 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 27, 192s. 1,692,823

S. W. FARNHAM APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LOOSE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 12, 192e 5 sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 27, 1928.

S. W. FARNHAM APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LOOSE MATERIAL Filed Aug. l2, 1926 5 SheetS-Sheet Nov. 27, 1928. 1,692,823

' s. w. FARNHAM APPARATUS HANDLING LOOSE MATERIAL n Filed Aug. 12, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 27,1928. 1,692,823 s. w. FARNHAM l l APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LOOSE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 12, 192s 5 sheets-sheet 5- Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES l 1,692,823 PATENT oFFICE.

SIDNEY W. FARNEIAM, OF CIL;

CAGO, ILLINOIS, SSGE'OI?. TO GOODMAN MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF CHCAGO, ELL

ENOTS, A CORPOBA'ON OF LE'NOS.

APPARATUS FOR 'HANDLING LOOSE MATERAL.

Application filed. August 12.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus ttor handling loose material, and more particularly to scraping devices tor transporting coal 'from the` working taceot a mine to an entry for loading into mine cars.

The principal object o'li the present invention is to provide a simple and etlicient apparatus -ot the class described, and an improved method Yior operating the same. F urther objects et my invention williappear in the following description, reference being` had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved scraper loading apparatus;

Figures 2 and 3 are diagrammatic views ot' mine rooms using the room and pillar system ot mining and provided with the improved scraper loading system, 'illustrating the method ot positioning the Scrapers at the working tace ot the room;

Figure l is a plan view of the loading machine used in my improved loading system, having a portion of the chute broken away to show the winding devices and operating mechanism Figure 5 is a side elevation ot the loading machine shown in Figure 4l;

Figure 6 is a transverse section ot the scraper positioning device talren on line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a cross section through the movable carriage ot the. scraper positioning device talten on line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a transverse section through the 'lorward end ot the loading machine showing the head rope positioning device talten on line 8-8 ot Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal cross section through the forward end ci the loading machine talren on line 9-9 ot Figure fi; and

Figure 10 is a transverse elevation ot the drum sha ft with parts sh own in section taken on line 10-10 of Figure il.

Referring now to the details otthe drawings: l

A loading machine 1 is indicated as having a connection through suitable operating devices to a pair ot head ropes 2, 2, attached to the forward or open end ot a pair of scoops or scrapers 3, 3. The scrapers are ot the usual type and construction, each of which is provided at the rearward end thereoit with a suitable tail rope 4. To effect the positioning ot the Scrapers tor loading, I

Serial No. 123,753.

provide a transversely disposed guide beam adjacent the working or loading tace. Said guide beam is comprised of a U-bar or a channel 5 as a main trame and has disposed in each end thereof suitable bracket supports 6, 6, each of which being provided with a horizontal projection 7. The horizontal projections 7, 7, oit said brackets have an aperture 8 at the outermost end thereor` tor receiving therethrough jack pipes 9, 9, adapted to rigidly secure said guide beam to the mine loor, at predetermined point relative to the working tace. The inner ends 10, 10, oit said brackets act as limits or stops for a transversely movable carriage, disposed within the U bar trame intermediate the brackets. Formed integrally with said horizontal projections 7, 7, on the upper sides thoreot are a pair of vertically disposed combinati'onbosses and studs 12, 12,

' one or" which is vertically oti'set from the A pair ot transversely disposed' other. sheaves 13, 13, are mounted on said studs vertically otlfset trom each other due to the otliset of the bosses and studs.

The carriage is provided with a body portion 14C, the ends ot which have longitudinal recesses 15, 15, in the respective sides thereof. Each recess is adapted to receive a pair of vertically disposed and transversely spaced rolle 1s 16, 16. Said rollers are secured between the upper and lower surfaces of the recess by means of pins 18, 18. The rollers engage the inner sides ot the U bar frame, and atllord tree transverse movement ot said carriage therein. A pair ot combination bosses and studs 19, 19, are formed integral with the carriage body on the upper side. One of said bosses and studs is vertically ottset trom the yother to aliord the necessary rope clearance. A second pair of transversely disposed sheaves 20, 20, are mounted on studs 19, 19, vertically offset from each other. Each ot' the second mentioned pair ot sheaves are in precise vertical alignment in pairs with the irst mentioned sheaves disposed at the opposite end ot said carriage trame. Flach pair ot the vertically aligned sheaves have a tail'rope of one of the said scrapers trained thereover. The vertical otlset. ot said pairs ot sheaves permits the respective tail ropes to be actuated without interfering with each other.

The floading machine is provided with a suitable frame 21, adapted to normally support an inclined chute or body portion 22. Said body portion is provided with a bottom 23 connecting at the longitudinal edges with vertical side members 24, 24. An apron 25 of the usual type is attached to the lower rear end of said body portion, and is adapted to guide the scrapers thereon. A boom extending forwardly and upwardly from said body portions is provided with a pair of side members 27, 27, which are rigidly secured to the sides of said body and in parallel alignment therewith. A transversely disposed cross member 28 is supported on the outer ends of the side members of said boom. A sleeve 29 is loosely mounted on said cross member and is adapted to have free rotatable and slidable movement thereon. Guide sheaves 30, 30, are secured to each end of the sleeve. Also as means to centrally align the respective head ropes with the body portion, a guide beam is provided and which functions in a similar manner to the apparatus used to align the scrapers at the working face. Said guide beam is provided with a transversely disposed U bar main frame 32, secured to the forward end on the underside of the body portion by means of brackets 33, 33. Said brackets are disposed at the outermost ends of the frame. The inner ends 34, 34, of the brackets act as limits or stops 4for a transversely movable carriage disposed within said main frame. The carriage is provided With roller appurtenances of the same character used with the carriage of the guide beam at the loading face. Said carriage body is provided at each end on the upper side thereof with combination bosses and studs 36, 36, one of which is vertically offset from the other. Said bosses and studs are integrally formed with the carriage body. A pair of vsheaves 37, 37, are transversely disposed on the studs. A second pair of sheaves 38, 3S, are angularly disposed and transversely spaced symmetrically about the center line of said body portion on the underside thereof, adjacent said guide beam. The second mentioned pair of sheaves are adapted to receive and guide the head ropes of the scrapers from the first mentioned pair of sheaves in opposite arrangement onto the respective winding drums. The second mentioned pair of sheaves are axially offset to provide the necessary clearance between the head ropes while the same are being actuated. The second mentioned pair of sheaves are loosely mounted on suitable stud brackets 39, 39, which are rigidly secured to the underside of said body portion adjacent said guide beam.

Said frame of the loading machine is pro vided with suitable bearings for supporting a pair of transversely disposed axles 40, 40. Each of said axles is provided with a pair lof suitable truck wheels 41, 41, adjacent the outermost ends thereof. The axles are also provided at one of the respective ends thereof outside of said truck wheels with a pair 'rope drums.

of sprockets 60, 60, operatively engaged and coacting by a suitable drive chain 61. A gear 42 is keyed onto the forward axle intermediate said truck wheels and is adapted to mesh with a gear 43 which is mounted in line and keyed on a stub shaft 44. Said stub shaft is transversely disposed and is substantially supported in suitable frame bearings. The opposite side of gear 43 meshes with a gear 46 which is loosely mounted on a stub counter shaft 47. The stub shaft is transversely disposed rearwardly of said first mentioned stub shaft and supported in suitable frame bearings. The gear 46 has cast integrally on one side thereof a jaw clutch part 48. Said gear and jaw clutch sliding part are adapted to be rotatably actuated by a jaw clutch part 49 which is feathered to the stub counter shaft 47, thereby affording a means of operatively driving the loading machine at will. Coaxially mounted with gear 46 is a second gear 5() keyed to the stub counter shaft 47 at the opposite end thereof and which meshes with a motor pinion 5l. The motor pinion is affixed to the end of the motor shaft of a motor 52. The motor is transversely disposed intermediate said axles and is supported in one side of said frame. A gear 53 is coaxially mounted and keyed to the stub counter shaft 47 preferably intermediate said gears 46 and 50. Gear 53 meshes with a gear 54 which is aligned therewith and is keyed to a stub shaft 55. Said stub shaft 55 is transversely disposed and is also supported in suitable frame bearings. A gear 56 is meshed with the gear 54 on the side opposite said gear 53. The gear 56 is loosely mounted on a transversely disposed drum shaft 57 which is supported in bearings at the foremost part of said frame. Said gear 56 has cast integrally on one side thereyof a jaw clutch part 58. Said gear and jaw clutch part are adapted to be rotatably actuated by a jaw clutch sliding part 59 feather keyed to the drum shaft thereby affording a means of actuating said drum shaft as desired. A pair of tail rope drums 62, 62, are loosely mounted at the outer ends of said drum shaft adjacent the frame bearings. A pair of head rope drums 63, 63, are loosely and coaxially mounted with said tail rope drums on said drum shaft inwardly of the tail y This arrangement affords a -yhead and a tail rope drum on each end of said drum shaft thereby comprising individual winding devices for each scraper. Suitable disc clutches 64, 64, are keyed to the drum shaft intermediate said head and tail rope drums of the respective pairs. Said clutches are adaptable for engaging either of said drums of the respective pairs there` by permitting said drums of a respective pair to coact with each other.` This arrangement further permits the unengaged drum to pay off a corresponding amount of rope as that wound on the engaged drum. The body is also provided at the rearward end thereof with suitable guide sheaves 65, 65, on each side of the machine for guiding the tail ropes from their respective drums.

The loading machine is adapted to transport the scrapers and appurtenances quickly about a mine by its own propelling means The loading machine is provided with independent winding devices for each of the scrapers which comprise head and tail rope drums 63, and 62, 62, respectively actuated through suitable reducing gearing from a motor carried in the loading machine frame as has been hereinbefore described. The scrapers are loaded at a predetermined point adjacent the working face in a mine. The loaded scraper is drawn up onto the loading` machine by applying power to the respective head rope drum. Simultaneously with the forward movement of the loaded scraper the empty scraper is centrally positioned the loading point by the tension set up in its tail rope due to power being applied to its respective rope drum. Immediately7 after the loaded scraper commences to move forward, tension is set up in its respective head rope which eifects the central alignment of sait rope with the loading machine. After the loaded scraper discharges its load power is applied to its respective tail rope drum thereby drawing the scraper rearward to the loading face at the respective side adjacent the loa-ding scraper. This operation is continuous and alternating with the respective scrapers.

A guide beam at the loading face is provided with a transversely movable carriage adapted to be actuated by the tension of the respective tail ropes thereon. The empty scraper is transversely positioned centrally with the guide beam simultaneously with the carriage in a respective direction by the tension in said tail rope, effected by applying power to the respective rope drum. The positioning of the head ropes is accomplished in a manner somewhat similar to that described above, except the tension set up in a respective head rope simultaneously shifts with the carriage, a guide sheave on the outer end of the boom until the respective sheaves for the head rope are in line. In Figures 2 and 3 the manner of shifting the scrapers is made clear.

The clutch arrangement used with the respective drums of each pair permits free paying olf of the rope from the unengaged drum in a corresponding amount as that wound in on the engaged drum. The arrangement of the apparatus as disclosed permits the scraperste be actuated in precisely overlapping or coincident paths.

Although I have illustrated my improved scraper loading system in connection with the room and pillar system of mining, it will be understood that it can also be advantageously used in other systems without any substantial change in arrangement, construction, or operation of the apparatus. I do not therefore wish to be understood as limiting myself to the specific embodiment shown as the same may be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a device otthe character described, the combination of a pair of scrapers, lic-ad and tail ropes for operating each of said scrapers, and means operated by relative tension on said head ropes for effecting 'transverse positioning thereof.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of scrapers, head and tail ropes for operating each of said scrapers, and means operated by relative tension on said tail ropes for effecting transverse positioning` of said scrapers.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of scrapers, head and tail ropes for operating eachV of said scrapers, and means operated by relative tension on said head ropes foreifecting transverse positioning thereof, and means operated by relative tension on said tail ropes for effecting trai'iigivcrse positioning of said scrapers. i

d. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of scrapers, head and tail ropes for operating each of said scrapers, winding drums the respec tive ropes, manually controlled means for operating said drums for operating said scrapers and for eifecting relative tension on said head ropes, and means engfiging saidA head ropes intermediate the respective drums and said scrapers, said means being responsive to relative tension ou said head ropes for effecting transverse positioning thereof.

5. In a device of the chancter described, the combination of a pair of scrapers, head and tail ropes for operating each ot' said scrapers, winding` drums engaging the respective ropes, manually controlled means for operating said drums for operating said scrapers and for effecting relative tension on said tail ropes, and means engaging said tail ropes intermediate the respective drums and said scrapers, said means being responsive to relative tension on said tail ropes for effecting transverse positioning of said scrapers.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of scrapers, head and tail ropes for operating each of said scrapers, winding drums engaging the respective ropes, manually controlled means for operating said drums for operating said scrapers and for effecting relative tension on said head and tail ropes, means engaging said head ropes intermediate the respective drums and scrapers, said means being responsive to relative tension on said head ropes for effecting transverse positioning thereof, and means engaging said tail ropes intermediate the rcspective drums and scrapers, said last inentioned means being responsive. to relative tension on said tail ropes for effecting transverse positioning of said scrapers.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame having a pair of sheaves mounted on a stationary part thereof, a transversely movable carriage on said frame, a second pair of sheaves mounted on said carriage, one of the pairs of said sheaves being transversely spaced, and a pair of draft ropes each of which is trained over one of said transversely spaced sheaves and one of the sheaves of the other pair, for effecting transverse movement of said carriage in opposite directions by relative tension on said ropes.

8. In a device of the characterdescribed, the combination of a pair of scrapers, head and tail ropes for operating each of said scrapers, a frame having a pair of sheaves mounted on a stationary part thereof, a transversely movable carriage on said frame, a second pair of sheaves mounted. on said carriage, one of the pairs of said sheaves being transversely spaced, each of saidhead ropes being trained over one of said trans versely spaced sheaves and one of the sheaves of the other pair for effecting transverse movement of said carriage by relative tension on said head ropes.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of scrapers, head and tail ropes for operating each of said scrapers, a frame having a pair of sheaves mounted on a stationary part thereof, a transversely movable carriage on said frame, a second pair of sheaves mounted on said carriage, one of the pairs of said sheaves being transversely spaced, each of said tail ropes being trained over one of said transversely spaced sheaves and one of the sheaves of the other pair for efeeting transverse movement of said carriage by relative tension on said tail ropes.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of an inclined chute, a pair of scrapers, and means for alternately operating said scrapers on said chute in coincident paths.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of an inclined chute, a pair of scrapers, head and tail .ropes for operating each of said scrapers, and means oper ated by said ropes for effecting alternate operation of said scrapers on said chute in coincident paths.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of an inclined chute, a pair of scrapers, head and tail ropes for operating each of said scrapers, and means disposed on the higher end of said chute coact` ing with means at the loading face for effect ing alternate operation of said scrapers on said chute in coincident paths.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair of scrapers, draft ropes for operating said scrapers, and means operated by said ropes for alternately moving said scrapers in a coincident path when the same are actuated in a forwardly direction.

14. In a device of the character described,

the combination of an inclined chute, a pair of scrapers, and mechanically operated means at said inclined chute cooperating with means remote from said chute for alternately operating said scrapers on said chute in coincident paths.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination of an inclined chute, a pair of scrapers, and mechanically operated means at said inclined Vchute cooperating With means remote from said inclined chute for alternately operating said scrapers in coincident paths When the same are actuated in a forwardly direction.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination of an inclined chute, a pair of scrapers, and automatic mechanically operated means at said inclined chute cooperating with means remote from said inclined chute for alternately operating said scrapers in coincident paths when the same are actuated in a forwardly direction while said inclined chute remains stationary.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 31st day of July, A. D. 1926.

SIDNEY lV. FARNHAM. 

